Several dead as militants storm W. Afghan provincial capital

The attack occurred after midnight when dozens of Taliban militants attacked security forces positions from three directions and captured parts of the city at early hours of Friday.
"Afghan security forces evict militants from an army recruitment office captured by militants at early morning. At least 10 militants were killed in and around the building and there is no threat in the area to any further extent now," Muhibullah Muhib, provincial police spokesman, told local reporters.
He said the militants fought at the army recruitment building to target nearby government office buildings but failed in their vicious plan.
Afghan Air Force helicopters were hovering over the city and its outskirts after the clashes caused panic among residents in the province bordering Iran.
Muhib also confirmed that more than 50 Taliban militants have also been killed in or around Farah city since the fighting started.
Those among the killed were a local Taliban leader named Noor Ahmad Chakani and two Taliban divisional commanders named Mawlawi Fazil and Mawlawi Dawood, the police official noted.
Sporadic clashes were continuing as of midday Friday and no immediate reports of casualties on security forces and civilians were available.
Meantime, Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, claimed that Taliban fighters clashed with reinforcement security forces out of Farah city and stopped them from advancing.
The Friday's assault is the third massive Taliban attack against Afghan cities within a week. The militants attacked provincial capitals of northern Kunduz and Baghlan provinces over the weekend but were fought back by Afghan forces, failing to overrun the cities.